Monthly Archives: February 2018

I had a nice 1-mile walk to my office, Starbucks in Waikele to do work this evening of 2/27/2018. The energy I get from coffee shops motivates me to accomplish some small wins. This reminds me of my law school days when I walked everywhere, even in the snow and ice. Gratitude for my Hawaii lifestyle!

Our dreams light the way. Even if it’s a speck of light far away in a mass of darkness, we’ve got to keep working towards it. Our dreams give us purpose in life, and for some of us, even reasons to live. Whether visible or not, many are cheering you on! Keep going!

I offered incense during the service and made a speech as President of Jodo Mission of Hawaii at the Fujinkai annual general membership meeting today, Sunday February 25, 2018. After we had a New Year’s party with food, memory games, bingo, and recognition of members who are 80 years old and above. It was a nice time!

Thinking of my loved ones who passed away, and those of you facing life threatening illnesses. If I spent five days in prison in order to have them back for a moment or to take away your suffering from killer diseases . . . I look within myself to find clarity. Love you all.

This afternoon of Monday February 19, 2018, I attended two funerals. The first was at 5:00 P.M. for Mrs. Miyono Shimoda held at Jodo Mission of Hawaii where she was an active member. My mom and I greeted the family. As President of Jodo Mission, I represented the organization in placing incense in the incense holder to pay respect to Mrs Shimono as Bishop Yubun Narashiba and Rev. Kanjun Nakano chanted. My grandparents Maurice and Bessie Karamatsu were friends with her and her late husband Robert “Bob” Shimoda. I got the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Shimoda when we volunteered at Jodo Mission of Hawaii, who was always very nice. She passed away at age 96, and will be missed. It saddens me to see the friends of late my grandparents leave.

At 6:00 P.M., my mom and I joined my dad to attend the funeral of Thomas Yukio Okubo at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary, my dad’s cousin on my grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s side of the family. He was a construction manager for Mitsunaga Associates, and passed away at 65 years old, a young age for our time period.

I feel vulnerable. The impermanence of my existence and those I know becomes more and more real with each passing day.

Like this:

Ran the Great Aloha Run, an 8.15-mile race from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Monday February 19, 2018 from 7:00 A.M. It was my 10th time running the race and my time this year was 1:06:22. Here I am with my mom at McDonald’s near the stadium who drove me to the race. My mom has been driving me to my meetings and appointments for the past week. I have so much love and gratitude for my mom. I owe the world to her.

Like this:

I drank all my green tea latte that I bought from Trader Joe’s in San Mateo, California during my stay with my sister Mia and her family. I enjoyed it for my breakfasts and while I did work on my Macbook Pro! I will buy more when I’m back on the U.S. mainland.

JON RIKI KARAMATSU · In my work as a lawyer, consultant, and entrepreneur, I enjoy building and expanding companies. In my past, I served eight years as a Hawaii State Representative; owned an Internet retail business for ten years; served four and a half years as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and Legislative Liaison for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, City and County of Honolulu; and produced campaign, cultural, and music events since 2002. As a lawyer, I advocate for entities that need new or amended rules, regulations, and/or statutes by drafting legislation, resolutions, and/or proposals, followed by written and oral testimonies before government bodies. I also assist companies with government incentives, special revenue bonds, government applications, government permits, public and private grants, proactive legal defense strategies, product and services development, marketing, public affairs, and media affairs. Further, I review, draft, and negotiate business agreements and documents. Every so often, I help clients in settling disputes through negotiation, mediation, and/or arbitration. Further, I'm a partner in a start-up aviation fixed-base operator company in Hawaii, which we plan to break ground in 2019. I enjoy creative writing as well, completing a paranormal, romance, historical, and suspense novel based in Hawaii during the 2000s that has been copyrighted and is being shopped around for representation. I'm currently writing my second novel, a historical, romance, and suspense story based in Iraq during the U.S. occupation and war.